佛祖歷代通載 8.66

8.66

（三十二　戊申）　明帝詔僧瑾。為天下僧正。止靈根寺。帝多諱忌。犯者必殺之瑾每匡諫。賴免者甚眾。時京邑諸師立二諦義。有三宗。宗各不同。於是汝南周顒。作三宗論以通其異。然畏譏不敢傳。法師智林者。最有時望。以書抵顒。略曰。切聞三宗論。鉤深索隱。盡眾生之情。廓而通之。盡諸佛之意。使法燈有種勝利無窮。借使國城妻子之施。何以逮此哉。傳者以為公畏譏評故欲中輟。詎可特纏疑障。自發現行乎。顒得書戄然悟。此論遂行于世矣。

(32. The wushen year [468 CE]) Emperor Ming decreed the monk Sengjin to be the saṅgha controller of the realm, residing at Linggen Temple. The emperor had many taboos, and whoever violated them was surely killed; Jin frequently admonished him, and those who relied on him to escape death were very numerous. At that time, various masters in the capital established the doctrine of the two truths, forming three lineages, each differing from the others. Thereupon Zhou Yong of Runan wrote the Discourse on the Three Lineages to reconcile their differences. However, fearing criticism, he dared not circulate it. Dharma Master Zhilin was of the highest contemporary reputation; he sent a letter to Yong, saying in brief: "I have heard that the Discourse on the Three Lineages probes the depths and seeks out the hidden, thoroughly fathoming the minds of sentient beings; by broadening and unifying them, it exhausts the intention of all Buddhas, ensuring that the lamp of the Dharma has its lineage and endless benefits. Even if one offered states, cities, wives, and children, how could it match this? Word has it that you, sir, fear criticism and thus wish to stop halfway. How could you become entangled in doubts and hindrances, hindering your own manifested practice?" Receiving the letter, Yong was startled and awakened, and this discourse thereupon circulated in the world.